How to Easily Pass the ISC CISSP Exam: Expert Advice

 The organization should ensure that the third party’s physical security controls are in place so that they are able to limit access to sensitive information. Physical security controls are the measures or the mechanisms that protect the physical assets, such as the hardware, the software, the media, or the personnel, from the unauthorized or the malicious access, damage, or theft. Physical security controls can include locks, fences, guards, cameras, alarms, or biometrics. The organization should ensure that the third party’s physical security controls are able to limit access to sensitive information, as it can prevent or reduce the risk of the data breach, the data loss, or the data corruption, and it can ensure the confidentiality, the integrity, and the availability of the information. The organization should also ensure that the third party’s physical security controls are compliant with the organization’s policies, standards, and regulations, and that they are audited and monitored regularly. The organization should not ensure that the third party’s physical security controls are more rigorous than the original controls, allow access by the organization staff at any time, or cannot be accessed by subcontractors of the third party, as they are related to the level, the scope, or the restriction of the physical security controls, not the ability to limit access to sensitive information. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 7, Security Operations, page 849. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 7, Security Operations, page 865.

The most important factor to monitor when determining appropriate resource allocation is the number of system compromises. The number of system compromises is the count or the frequency of the security incidents or breaches that affect the confidentiality, the integrity, or the availability of the system data or functionality, and that are caused by the unauthorized or the malicious access or activity. The number of system compromises can help to determine appropriate resource allocation, as it can indicate the level of security risk or threat that the system faces, and the level of security protection or improvement that the system needs. The number of system compromises can also help to evaluate the effectiveness or the efficiency of the current resource allocation, and to identify the areas or the domains that require more or less resources. Number of audit findings, number of staff reductions, and number of additional assets are not the most important factors to monitor when determining appropriate resource allocation, as they are related to the results or the outcomes of the audit process, the changes or the impacts of the staff size, or the additions or the expansions of the system resources, not the security incidents or breaches that affect the system data or functionality. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 7, Security Operations, page 863. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 7, Security Operations, page 879.

The primary reason for ethics awareness and related policy implementation is to affect the reputation of an organization positively, by demonstrating its commitment to ethical principles, values, and standards in its business practices, services, and products. Ethics awareness and policy implementation can also help the organization avoid legal liabilities, fines, or sanctions for unethical conduct, and foster trust and loyalty among its customers, partners, and employees. The other options are not as important as affecting the reputation, as they either do not directly relate to ethics (A), or are secondary outcomes of ethics (C and D). References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 1, page 19; Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 1, page 28.

The method that provides the most protection for user credentials is digest authentication. Digest authentication is a type of authentication that verifies the identity of a user or a device by using a cryptographic hash function to transform the user credentials, such as username and password, into a digest or a hash value, before sending them over a network, such as the internet. Digest authentication can provide more protection for user credentials than basic authentication, which sends the user credentials in plain text, or forms-based authentication, which relies on the security of the web server or the web application. Digest authentication can prevent the interception, disclosure, or modification of the user credentials by third parties, and can also prevent replay attacks by using a nonce or a random value. Self-registration is not a method of authentication, but a process of creating a user account or a profile by providing some personal information, such as name, email, or phone number. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 5, Identity and Access Management, page 685. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 5, Identity and Access Management, page 701.

The third party needs to have access to the skill sets consistent with the programming languages used by the organization. The programming languages are the tools or the methods of creating, modifying, testing, and supporting the software applications that perform the functions or the tasks required by the organization. The programming languages can vary in their syntax, semantics, features, or paradigms, and they can require different levels of expertise or experience to use them effectively or efficiently. The third party needs to have access to the skill sets consistent with the programming languages used by the organization, as it can ensure the quality, the compatibility, and the maintainability of the software applications that the third party is responsible for. The third party does not need to have processes that are identical to that of the organization doing the outsourcing, access to the original personnel that were on staff at the organization, or the ability to maintain all of the applications in languages they are familiar with, as they are related to the methods, the resources, or the preferences of the software development, not the skill sets consistent with the programming languages used by the organization. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 8, Software Development Security, page 1000. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 8, Software Development Security, page 1016.

The factor that most influences the design of the organization’s electronic monitoring policies is workplace privacy laws. Workplace privacy laws are the laws that regulate the extent and manner of the employer’s monitoring or surveillance of the employee’s activities, communications, or behavior in the workplace, such as email, phone, internet, or video monitoring. Workplace privacy laws vary by country, state, or region, and may impose different requirements or restrictions on the employer’s electronic monitoring policies, such as the purpose, scope, consent, disclosure, or protection of the monitoring data. The employer must comply with the applicable workplace privacy laws when designing and implementing the electronic monitoring policies, to avoid violating the employee’s privacy rights or facing legal consequences. Level of organizational trust, results of background checks, and business ethical considerations are not the factors that most influence the design of the organization’s electronic monitoring policies, as they are related to the culture, security, or values of the organization, not the legal or regulatory framework of the electronic monitoring. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 50. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 65.

The best solution to detect the use of P2P programs when the computer was connected to the office network is an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). An IPS is a device or a software that monitors, analyzes, and blocks the network traffic based on the predefined rules or policies, and that can prevent or stop any unauthorized or malicious access or activity on the network, such as P2P programs. An IPS can detect the use of P2P programs by inspecting the network packets, identifying the P2P protocols or signatures, and blocking or dropping the P2P traffic. Anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and integrity checking software are not the best solutions to detect the use of P2P programs when the computer was connected to the office network, as they are related to the protection, removal, or verification of the software or files on the computer, not the monitoring, analysis, or blocking of the network traffic. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 512. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 528.

The components that are in the scope of PCI-DSS are the end devices, wireless access points, WLAN, switches, management console, and firewall. PCI-DSS is a set of standards and requirements that aim to ensure the security of the cardholder data and the payment transactions. PCI-DSS applies to any entity that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, or that provides services or devices that affect the security of the cardholder data. The scope of PCI-DSS includes all the system components that are connected to or support the cardholder data environment, such as the hardware, the software, the network, or the personnel. In this question, the end devices, wireless access points, WLAN, switches, management console, and firewall are all part of the system components that are connected to or support the cardholder data environment, as they are used to process the credit card transactions on the WLAN. Therefore, they are in the scope of PCI-DSS, and they must comply with the PCI-DSS requirements. The entire enterprise network infrastructure and the Internet are not in the scope of PCI-DSS, as they are not directly connected to or support the cardholder data environment, and they are separated from the private segment for credit card processing by the firewall. The border gateway is not a system component, but a term that refers to a device that connects two networks with different protocols, such as a router or a proxy server. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 548. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 564.

The attribute of the data that has been compromised, if it is discovered that large quantities of information have been copied by the unauthorized individual, is the confidentiality. The confidentiality is the property or the characteristic of the data that ensures that the data is only accessible or disclosed to the authorized individuals or entities, and that the data is protected from the unauthorized or the malicious access or disclosure. The confidentiality of the data can be compromised when the data is copied, stolen, leaked, or exposed by an unauthorized individual or a malicious actor, such as the one who accessed the system hosting the database. The compromise of the confidentiality of the data can violate the privacy, the rights, or the interests of the data owners, subjects, or users, and can cause damage or harm to the organization’s operations, reputation, or objectives. Availability, integrity, and accountability are not the attributes of the data that have been compromised, if it is discovered that large quantities of information have been copied by the unauthorized individual, as they are related to the accessibility, the accuracy, or the responsibility of the data, not the secrecy or the protection of the data. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 3, Security Architecture and Engineering, page 263. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 3, Security Architecture and Engineering, page 279.

The following information classification steps should be placed in sequential order as follows:

• Document the information assets
• Assign a classification level
• Apply the appropriate security markings
• Conduct periodic classification reviews
• Declassify information when appropriate

 Information classification is a process or a method of categorizing the information assets based on their sensitivity, criticality, or value, and applying the appropriate security controls or measures to protect them. Information classification can help to ensure the confidentiality, the integrity, and the availability of the information assets, and to support the security, the compliance, or the business objectives of the organization. The information classification steps are the activities or the tasks that are involved in the information classification process, and they should be performed in a sequential order, as follows:

• Document the information assets: This step involves identifying, inventorying, and describing the information assets that are owned, used, or managed by the organization, such as the data, the documents, the records, or the media. This step can help to determine the scope, the ownership, or the characteristics of the information assets, and to prepare for the next steps of the information classification process.
• Assign a classification level: This step involves assigning a classification level or a label to each information asset, based on the sensitivity, the criticality, or the value of the information asset, and the impact or the consequence of the unauthorized or the malicious access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of the information asset. The classification level or the label can indicate the degree or the extent of the security protection or the handling that the information asset requires, such as the confidentiality, the integrity, or the availability. The classification level or the label can vary depending on the organization’s policies, standards, or regulations, but some common examples are public, internal, confidential, or secret.
• Apply the appropriate security markings: This step involves applying the appropriate security markings or indicators to the information assets, based on the classification level or the label of the information assets. The security markings or indicators can include the visual, the physical, or the electronic symbols, signs, or codes that show the classification level or the label of the information assets, such as the banners, the headers, the footers, the stamps, the stickers, the tags, or the metadata. The security markings or indicators can help to communicate, inform, or remind the users or the entities of the security protection or the handling that the information assets require, and to prevent or reduce the risk of the unauthorized or the malicious access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of the information assets.
• Conduct periodic classification reviews: This step involves conducting periodic classification reviews or assessments of the information assets, to ensure that the classification level or the label and the security markings or indicators of the information assets are accurate, consistent, and up-to-date. The periodic classification reviews or assessments can be triggered by the changes or the events that affect the sensitivity, the criticality, or the value of the information assets, such as the business needs, the legal requirements, the security incidents, or the data lifecycle. The periodic classification reviews or assessments can help to verify, validate, or update the classification level or the label and the security markings or indicators of the information assets, and to maintain or improve the security protection or the handling of the information assets.
• Declassify information when appropriate: This step involves declassifying or downgrading the information assets when appropriate, to reduce or remove the security protection or the handling that the information assets require, based on the sensitivity, the criticality, or the value of the information assets, and the impact or the consequence of the unauthorized or the malicious access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of the information assets. The declassification or the downgrade of the information assets can be triggered by the changes or the events that affect the sensitivity, the criticality, or the value of the information assets, such as the expiration, the disposal, the release, or the transfer of the information assets. The declassification or the downgrade of the information assets can help to optimize, balance, or streamline the security protection or the handling of the information assets, and to support the security,

 The action that an organization that shares card holder information with a service provider must do when dealing with compliance with the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is to validate the service provider’s PCI-DSS compliance status on a regular basis. PCI-DSS is a set of security standards that applies to any organization that stores, processes, or transmits card holder data, such as credit or debit card information. PCI-DSS aims to protect the card holder data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or theft, and to ensure the security and integrity of the payment transactions. If an organization shares card holder data with a service provider, such as a payment processor, a hosting provider, or a cloud provider, the organization is still responsible for the security and compliance of the card holder data, and must ensure that the service provider also meets the PCI-DSS requirements. The organization must validate the service provider’s PCI-DSS compliance status on a regular basis, by obtaining and reviewing the service provider’s PCI-DSS assessment reports, such as the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), the Report on Compliance (ROC), or the Attestation of Compliance (AOC). Performing a service provider PCI-DSS assessment on a yearly basis, validating that the service provider’s security policies are in alignment with those of the organization, and ensuring that the service provider updates and tests its Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) on a yearly basis are not the actions that an organization that shares card holder information with a service provider must do when dealing with compliance with PCI-DSS, as they are not sufficient or relevant to verify the service provider’s PCI-DSS compliance status or to protect the card holder data. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 49. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 64.

The best indicator of where the IT budget is best allocated during this time is the metrics. The metrics are the measurements or the indicators of the performance, the effectiveness, the efficiency, or the quality of the IT processes, activities, or outcomes. The metrics can help to allocate the IT budget in a rational, objective, and evidence-based manner, as they can show the value, the impact, or the return of the IT investments, and they can identify the gaps, the risks, or the opportunities for the IT improvement or enhancement. The metrics can also help to justify, communicate, or report the IT budget allocation to the senior management or the stakeholders, and to align the IT budget allocation with the business needs and requirements. Policies, frameworks, and guidelines are not the best indicators of where the IT budget is best allocated during this time, as they are related to the documents or the models that define, guide, or standardize the IT processes, activities, or outcomes, not the measurements or the indicators of the IT performance, effectiveness, efficiency, or quality. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 38. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 53.

The most likely reason for some of the security requirements not being addressed in the system specification during the procurement of a new information system is that the description of the security requirements was insufficient. The description of the security requirements is the part of the procurement document that specifies the security objectives, criteria, standards, and measures that the system must meet or comply with. If the description of the security requirements is insufficient, vague, ambiguous, incomplete, or inaccurate, then the system specification may not reflect or satisfy the security needs and expectations of the organization. The procurement officer lacking technical knowledge, the security requirements changing during the procurement process, and there being no security professionals in the vendor’s bidding team are not the most likely reasons for this problem, as they do not directly affect the quality or clarity of the description of the security requirements. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 8, Software Development Security, page 1045. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 8, Software Development Security, page 1071.

The required step to determine classification and ownership is to ensure that the system and data resources are properly identified. Identification is the process of assigning unique names or labels to the system and data resources, such as hardware, software, files, databases, or networks. Identification helps to distinguish the system and data resources from each other, and to associate them with their respective owners, custodians, or users. Identification is a prerequisite for classification and ownership, which are the processes of assigning the value, sensitivity, and criticality of the system and data resources, and the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in their protection and management. Logging and auditing access violations, identifying and linking data file references, and integrating system security controls are not required steps to determine classification and ownership, as they are related to the implementation and monitoring of the security policies and measures, not the identification of the system and data resources. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 39. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 1, Security and Risk Management, page 52.

 The type of attack that has most likely occurred when a disgruntled network administrator has intercepted emails meant for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and changed them before forwarding them to their intended recipient is a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. A MITM attack is a type of attack that involves an attacker intercepting, modifying, or redirecting the communication between two parties, without their knowledge or consent. The attacker can alter, delete, or inject data, or impersonate one of the parties, to achieve malicious goals, such as stealing information, compromising security, or disrupting service. A MITM attack can be performed on various types of networks or protocols, such as email, web, or wireless. Spoofing, eavesdropping, and denial of service are not the types of attack that have most likely occurred in this scenario, as they do not involve the modification or manipulation of the communication between the parties, but rather the falsification, observation, or prevention of the communication. References: CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Eighth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 462. Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference, Fifth Edition, Chapter 4, Communication and Network Security, page 478.